YASNY

Just kidding about the NY-Boston thing. Here's the link. Full story at link above.

Produce a self written obit by Radar O'Reilly. An autoobituary, so to speak.

When it comes to HOF inclusion or not, this will be dealt with by the individual judgements of the voting members of the BBWAA and the veterans committee. Each case will be looked at on it's own merits, the voters will decide who qualifies and who doesn't. Of course, this is the way it has always been done and should continue without any special special exclusion rules specifically aimed at PED users. No arbitrary line is drawn in the sand this way. The voters vote as they see fit and if 75% vote for a player, he's in. I honestly can't think of a more equitable way to deal with this particular issue.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 17, 2009 -> 12:07 PM) The thing is, baseball would have been much better for it in the long run. The owners know/knew the extent of the drug problem in baseball. There is nothing that will convince me otherwise. They knew they were living a fraud. In the end, all Selig's "actions" did was to try to protect ownership and management, and instead of having a bad period of relations with labor, we are now into about a 10 year long period where every single player and team has been looked as suspiciously. Instead of getting this out into the open, we have had a lynch mob mentality, and it is taking the integrety of the game down with it. Besides, I don't believe that the labor union would have actually tried to publicly justify going out on strike so they could NOT be drug tested, with the swirl of accusations that have surrounded them for a decade now. They would have been cutting their own throats from a PR standpoint, and they would make themselves all look guilty by association. Saying that baseball would be better for it is an opinion or an assumption. The fans were on the verge of turning their collective back on baseball just before the last real work stoppage threat was narrowly averted. In fact, the fans in Anaheim literally did turn their backs to the game. The union has always had an over the top arrogance during negotiations with MLB and I wouldn't doubt for one second that they would have gone out over this. If that occured, baseball could have found itself in a situation similar to the NHL has been facing for a few years now, though it appears hockey has turned the tide and is on it's way back to respectability again. Selig, I believe, had his hands tied. Bad relations with labor was not Selig's big concern, it was bad or nonexistant relations with the fans. While you can accurately say that the PED issue has been a PR black eye, I can accurately say that baseball is flourishing right now. In fact, unless the economy really hits the crapper and takes baseball down with it, I'd venture as far as to say that we are currently in the golden age of baseball.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Feb 17, 2009 -> 09:54 AM) I totally agree with YASNY. Who are you and what have you done with Milkman?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 16, 2009 -> 10:01 AM) I disagree totally with your statement YAS. Bud Selig alone had the power to do something about the drug problem in baseball. He has the ability to take a unilateral action if he deems it "for the good of baseball". It was a power that Landis insisted on when he took over after the Black Sox scandal. This power still exists to this day. He could have instituted any level of testing and penalties that he saw fit. Instead he negotiated it with the union, and besides how long it took to institute, it became so watered down, even to this day, that it is almost counterproductive. If Bud Selig wanted Olympic style testing, it could be done tomorrow, and there isn't a damned thing the union could do about it. They couldn't even sue because of the baseball anti-trust exemption. If Selig did that, he would be breaking the contract signed with the union. It would result in an instant strike and that is something MLB could not allow to happen so soon after 1994. Granted, Selig does have those 'best intertests of baseball' powers, but he cannot assume a K.M. Landis attitude in this day and age.

The Cubs have a special day honoring the 40th anniversary of the '69 Cubs. During the ceremony a Sox fan releases a black cat by the Cubs dugout.

Combined projection totals for the Sox and Cubs over the last 4 years: Sox 38 Cubs -45 So they have a history of decidedly underestimating the Sox and overestimating the Cubs. I'm so shocked!!!

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Feb 14, 2009 -> 02:45 PM) But we already gave Anderson a chance. ...In 2006. I think Brian's only worth to the team is as a platoon-type and late inning defensive replacement. I think Anderson is the best option for CF that we currently have. Ozzie made BA pay his dues so speak, last year and Brian seemed to maturely accept it and do his job. I believe he's ready to assume the role of a starting everyday ML centerfielder and would like to see him get another shot at it on the southside.

I have to say, I have a different opinion on Bud Selig than the majority. First of all, Selig seems to be getting the blame for the steroid era. Well just step back in time bit, say to 1994 ... and remember the season without a World Series. Then look at the backlash from the fans after that season and the one when they avoided a strike/lockout because the fans were so vocal. The union wouldn't let baseball implement the PED tests. Yes, it was known in the late 90's around the game that PED's were part of the equation and Selig let it continue. But his hands were tied. He could not force the issue and cause another work stoppage over it. At that point in time, his best recourse was to sweep it under the rug and that's what he did. In the mean time, baseball is as healthy and vibrant as it has been in a long time. More butts in seats now than there ever has been. I credit Bud Selig's leadership for a big part of that fact.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 02:26 AM) Difference between saying a player is bad and was bad. He is such a liability healthwise right now that the Sox are better off moving forward with cheaper, potentially better alternatives. I dont think anybody would truly discredit Crede as a Sox player contributing to the Championship team, but its a "what have you done fore me lately" game. And hes been injured for the past 3 years and has Boras as his agent. He couldve done more to stay with the Sox if he wanted to, such as get a new agent, but he didnt. Hes moving on, the Sox are moving on, and so should fans (root for him if you want, but STOP asking/praying for him to return). I was a big fan of Joe Crede, but this ^^^^ sums it up quite well.

Personally, I like the way this team is set up. I like the idea of the input of young blood on the team. For years, we've been reading the b****ing about this being an old, slow, station-to-station team. Well, it ain't going to change overnight, but it is in the process of changing. We added 4 very good fairly young ballplayers last year and have several possibilities to continue the trend this year. People point to CQ, ARam,Danks and Floyd and ask if we can expect that happen again with these new guys coming in. Probably not, but a lot of things didn't go right last year either and we still nabbed the division. We didn't get Hunter, Rowand or (thank God) Fukudome. Contreras, Crede, Jenks, Linebrink, Konerko, Uribe all spent time on the DL, I believe. Add to that Konerko's 4 months of suckiness, Contreras and Vazquez's inconsistencies on the mound, Swisher having an Erstadtesque season resulting in Dwayne AAAA Wise being in our starting lineup and of course, no TCQ down the stretch. There is a solid core of good young ballplayers and proven veterans on this team, and I see no reason to start the season standing on the ledge. Sure, it can all go in the crapper but it can be a wonderful, fun, magical year too. I'll do as always, go into it with reserved optimism and hope for the best.

$14.6 million? ummmmm ... riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight

I said this last year (and I was wrong) but I'll say it again. The Big Hurt wears silver and black before the year is over.

QUOTE (bighurt4life @ Feb 10, 2009 -> 02:59 AM) That projection is garbage. It says that the AL East will basically crush all of the MLB out of existence. I don't buy it. Whe the hell to the Orioles have that make them better than us or the Royals or Blue Jays for that matter. And we only finish 4 games ahead of the Mariners who may field one of the worst teams in recent memory next season? Everyone doubted us last season too and look what happened. I'm not saying that we'll win the division but last place. C'mon, that's a joke, we did win the division last season and we even cut loose some dead weight in Swisher and O-Cab. Cabrera was hardly 'dead weight' last year. He may not have been the most likeable guy, but he was a big part of the division championship. Swisher, not so much.

QUOTE (BobDylan @ Feb 6, 2009 -> 01:13 AM) Of course it's a matter of opinion. I don't find that he's a bad actor, just not a good one. And I'll take movies for their intended value, as well. Not every movie tries to be 8 1/2, I understand that. But I'm entitled to rip a movie as much as you're entitled to praise it, right? Now, if I posted about all the movies I do like, I'd probably be known by Steve as the guy who likes everything and has no critical thoughts. I choose to talk about the movies I don't like because I have more fun doing it and it usually creates more discussion then a bunch of people who agree. But alas, I'm uneducated so please disregard anything I say from here on out. C'mon gentlemen. Stop trying to push each others buttons and let it go.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Feb 6, 2009 -> 12:05 AM) To be honest, I think you're uneducated. And I think you get off on being the guy who doesn't like anything that anyone else likes. I find it hard to believe that you've never thought Christian Bale was good in anything, because he's that good in a lot of movies. I find it hard to believe that you don't like anything that finds its way to the main stream. Ten years ago I bet his independent amazing performance in American Psycho had you rolling over yet intrigued at the same time. Now that he's mainstream though, watch out. Big bag Bob Dylan of Soxtalk thinks he's a SELL OUT, no good actor!!! OH NOES!!! However, you seem to get off on being Mr. Different. Ok, enjoy it. Enjoy being the guy who loves nothing yet everything everyone doesn't know about. When you're done playing that game, join the rest of us who have a f***ing life. Ratchet it down there a bit, Hoss. Disagree with the man's opinion, fine. But, don't get so close to personal insults. Just a friendly word of caution.

QUOTE (Jeremy @ Feb 5, 2009 -> 08:51 PM) I think that in that quote Kenny comes across as smug and self-righteous; he frequently comes across that way and it's a big part of the reason I don't care for the man. You could say smug and self-righteous, or you could say self-assured and confident. I'd prefer to have an aggresive, confident GM as opposed to a guy who's afraid to pull the trigger on a deal, ala Ron Schuler.

Does DirectTV carry this network, and if so, where can it be found?

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Feb 4, 2009 -> 11:12 PM) The National Hockey League still exsists?Wow,I did not know that...it looks like my post rubbed some people here the wrong way and I guess I'm a bit older than the average fan here but you gotta know a bit about your favorite team,without knowing every single detail out there which is impossible.At least ya gotta know a few players from different eras,the sox did exsist before 2005.And I'm not claiming to be an expert at sox history since I started following them since the late 70s and many here weren't born yet,I realize that but I've read a bit on the history of the White Sox because I just find it interesting and not to try to claim that I'm more of a fan but there a bandwagon fans who were sox fans in 05 and would be Cub fans if they were to make it to the WS,those are the "fans" I was slamming. Other than the Sox, I'm a bandwagon fan for every other team I root for. I enjoy the Bears having success, but if they suck I don't lose any sleep over it. If they win it all, I'll celebrate it. I loved the Bulls during the MJ era, but haven't watched a full Bulls game this year. I'm just now getting back to being a Blackhawks fan, but I have been deprived of hockey since ESPN stopped showing games. I now have DirectTV and the NHL Center Ice package. But, I wouldn't have paid much more than cursory attention to the Hawks for the last decade or so. So, you can slam me for my 'fandom' of the Bears, Bulls and Hawks ... then ask me if I care.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jan 22, 2009 -> 10:13 PM) money You nailed it with one word. This was a Bud Selig invention. The owners are not going to allow the season to be interupted for this, so it it either has to occur right after the Series or before/during spring training. If it happens after the Series, no one pay attention at all, therefore it happens in the early spring. Which, because guys are rusty and pitchers' arms aren't ready, leaves something to be desired in terms of quality baseball. That's why this thing is a farce and I won't lose one minute sleep about the results.

I find it ironic that Americans are constantly criticized for their 'jingoism' when they chant USA USA USA at the Olympics, and now we are getting ripped for not caring about the results of a marketing driven tournament. The WBC is inherently flawed due to the time of year it is played. This time of year was chosen because they don't want to interrupt the season of --- heaven forbid, a domestic league --- and the fact that baseball fans are hungry for baseball after going without it for months. If this thing followed the World Series, when all the players were still sharp, in shape and rested, then the best baseball would be played at that time. However, after the Series, no one would watch. Nobody has any logical right to question my patriotism or national pride based on my views of this joke of a tourney. That would be as ridiculous as the WBC is.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 21, 2009 -> 04:43 PM) We will never agree on ths. I've had this discussion too many times to remember, but we can always agree to disagree. The game is about winning games. Pitchers can give up alot of hits, strikeout few hitters, look awful in stats but win. Jack McDowell was another example gave up a ton of hits but won very frequently and even got a Cy Young. While wins is not the only variable which tells the effectiveness of a pitcher, the Bill James and the statheads (of which I'm one) far under value the idea of actually winning. Of course pitchers can be the product of a great offense and a great defense for a season. However, over a number of seasons pitchers who consistently win are the ones I like regardless of the stats. ^ that!

The WBC means nothing to me.

May God be with you, Mr President. Edit to add: Not a response to NSS question. Just a wish on my part.